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Recently created and updated albums:

Jerry's Place, Jamul, CA
(Sep 16, 2010)
Jerrys vast 25-year accumulation of stuff.
Album was created 1 year 8 months ago and modified 1 year 8 months ago
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Cajon Speedway Structures
(Aug 15, 2005)
Even though they look pretty rough now, there was a lot of activity in these buildings just a year ago. I'd give anything for a plate of those great jalapeno nachos from the Kasinaks concession stand. Enjoy your final look at these buildings before the wrecking ball hits them. Note: As of Oct.13, 2005 no structures remain. They were either burned down or bulldozed as shown in the last two days. See other albums for pictures.
Album was created 6 years 10 months ago and modified 5 years 11 months ago
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The End of Cajon Speedway; Demolition has been completed.
CAUTION! Do not view this album if you want to remember Cajon Speedway as it was. This is a chronicle of the demolition of the track. This really began days before the lease ran out. The County began barricading and fencing the perimeter. Soon mobile floodlights were on the site. Now they have their own billboards erected with the new name of the place and a reminder that no taxpayer dollars were used. The new Ecological REserve (not PREserve) metal signs have been bolted over the old re/pre?-serve signs. I wonder what's the difference? And the vernal pools at the North end have been roped off and straw rolls surround the perimiter. Every tree has been chopped down and the remaining billboards were knocked down. As this demolition proceeds, I will post additional captioned pictures.
These are very sad days for this great little racetrack. After snapping a few pics each day, I leave that area with such an empty feeling. Seeing those living trees fall really hurt to watch and the grading is moving closer. Now that the grandstands have been demolished, the red and white crashwalls are about the only things left that would indicate this was once a racetrack. Oct.10th: a huge machine with powerful jaws chewed those walls up. And the Fire Dept. came on site to prepare for the practice firefighting drill. I have added another album with the fires on Oct. 11th.
UPDATE: I still drive by there every few days, but there is not much more to see or photograph now. What were chunks of crashwall, pieces of pit slabs, the block bathrooms and ticket booths, etc. has now been reduced to a huge mountain of gravel after being pulverized by that huge machine. We now have just our wonderful memories of Cajon Speedway left as we wonder why something better than airplane hangars cant be put on this site. Dave
Album was created 6 years 10 months ago and modified 6 years 2 months ago
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Cajon Speedway Pit Slabs
A final look at the slabs that once held the race cars and crewmen at Cajon Speedway on Saturday nights. Now mostly overgrown with weeds, these slabs will soon be ripped up by a bulldozer blade. Remember the flurry of activity that used to happen on these spots? I hope I didn't miss anyone. Some were hard to find after a year of collecting dirt and weeds. The slabs were demolished on Oct.13,2005 by that machine closing yet another chapter in Cajon Speedway history.
Album was created 6 years 10 months ago and modified 6 years 8 months ago
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October 11, 2005: A very sad day in local racing history.
(Oct 11, 2005)
It was on this day that the world bid farewell to Cajon Speedways buildings, crashwalls,and Ed Hales beautifully constructed ticket booths. And it was on this day that thousands of people met at Sonrise Community Church just up the street to say goodbye to Ed Hale himself. I'm sure you will be hearing about Ed's terrific service. What a huge group of friends he had! And as you said at the service, Tom McGrath, I agree with you that we all need to stay together as one big racing family.
I am at a loss for words at the moment to describe this days events. I am so saddened to see that there is nothing left but smoldering rubble and piles of broken cement that can be called Cajon Speedway. But I am so happy that I had the pleasure of knowing "Smilin' Ed" and that he was the driver of my Super Stock many years ago.
While we all at your services Ed, fire was engulfing those buildings and some kind of heavy equipment destroyed your ticket booths and other brick structures. Luckily we were not present to see that happen on your Memorial Day.
The pictures speak for themselves. The last one shows that pile of rubble that includes the West-side ticket booth.
While viewing these pictures, you might want to look at pa111236 closely. Doesn't that look like Ed Hales number 7 with a slash through it in the smoke? Very odd! and no PhotoShop was used. What do you think?
Album was created 6 years 8 months ago and modified 6 years 8 months ago
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Cajon Speedway Stadium Lights
(Aug 15, 2005)
These monstrous lights have shown down on 5 decades of great racing at Cajon Speedway. I don't think I have ever seen such large telephone poles. Certainly not energy efficient by todays standards, they lit the track well. I managed to fix a spare one and it shines for over 2 blocks in my neighborhood. The kids love it. See the close up picture of one.
Album was created 6 years 10 months ago and modified 6 years 9 months ago
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The Pits at Cajon Speedway
(Aug 15, 2005)
Various views of the pits, the scales and the fence. I'm sure you remember hustling around here trying to get your car ready for the lineup.
Album was created 6 years 10 months ago and modified 6 years 10 months ago
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Mr. Brucker's Final Lap at Cajon Speedway
(Aug 15, 2005)
While we were busy taking down billboards at the track, Mr. Brucker came out and paid us a visit. I didn't know he walks a lap around the track every day for exercise. Using his cane in one hand and hanging on to the crashwall with the other hand, he eventually makes his way around the track. During his chat with me he recounted some of the neat things that have happened over the years. I learned a lot. Such as how the track office and caretakers house were moved there. One was a bank building on El Cajon Blvd. and the other was from 5th and Laurel in the Balboa Park area. He mentioned that his wife and Dianne Porter had planted most of the Palm trees. During our chat, what I first thought was an RC car, a discarded potato chip bag blew down the front straightaway to where we were talking. He bent over and picked it up. There already was a crushed aluminum can in his hand. He was very proud of the track even up to it's final day. And he let me take a few pictures. It was terribly sad to see Mr. Brucker finish his final lap with trash in one hand slowly inching his way off the track with his cane, his head bent down.
Earle Brucker Jr. passed away Saturday night March 28, 2009 at his El Cajon, Calif. home. He was 83. Private services will be held.
Album was created 6 years 10 months ago and modified 6 years 10 months ago
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